Deodorant device



Nov. 26, 1963 G. KAUFMAN 3,111,703

DEODORANT DEVICE Filed Nov. 22, 1960 INVENTOR.

/% k WM, jar/m I ATTORNEYS GEORGE KAUFMAN' United States Patent 3,111,703 DEODORANT DEVICE George Kaufman, North Brunswick, Ni, assiguor to Carter Products, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of Maryland Filed Nov. 22, 19nd, den. No. 70,976 4 Claims. (Cl. 15-572) This invention relates to a fluid applicator and more particularly to a novel deodorant applicator which is selfsealing and opened in response to pressure applied to the applicator.

In the deodorant applicator art it is the practice to provide a container for liquid deodorant. A ball or roll applicator is mounted on one end of the container and valve means are provided for permitting the liquid in the container to engage the roll or ball so that the liquid deodorant can be applied to the body of the user by a rolling motion.

In presently known and used deodorant applicators, it has been the practice to provide an opening or valve structure between the container or fitment and the roll or ball applicator for permitting liquid flow therebetween. It has been found, however, that owing to temperature variations to which the container is subjected, the air and deodorant fluid within the container is subjected to expansion and contraction resulting in the deodorant being forced into engagement with the ball or roll. Another problem with known types of plastic bottle applicators is that when pressure is applied to the bottle, by a hand for example, the deodorant is forced out of the container and into engagement with the ball or roll. Obviously, these prior art applicators require the use of a cove-r or cap which applies sealing pressure to the ball or roll, or to the fitment so that there will be no loss of fluid deodorant resulting in a messy and objectionable deodorant device.

In accordance with the present invention a self-sealing deodorant applicator is provided wherein the deodorant fluid is prevented from leaking from the deviw owing to pressure within the device :or pressure being mechanically applied to the sides of the device. The present invention provides a device wherein fluid egress is permitted only when mechanical pressure is applied to the ball or roll type applicator during use of the device. A deodorant applicator is provided thereby which can be stored in any position without the necessity of a tightly secured sealing cover. Thus, a self-sealing unit is provided which is self-sealing and which will not permit fluid discharge at an inappropriate or inopportune time.

The present invention is versatile in that it is applicable to ball roller or ellipsoidal type applicator and can be used in conjunction with a flexible or rigid container.

I In certain embodiments of the instant invention a well means is provided \for insuring a supply of deodorant fluid adjacent the applicator.

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel liquid deodorant device.

Another object of this invention is to provide a deodorant device wherein the device is self-sealing.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a deodorant device having a container and an applicator wherein the deodorant may be applied irrespective of the position of the device.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a liquid applicator which includes a container of fluid wherein fluid egress is prevented when pressure is applied tothe container.

Another object of the present invention is toprovide a liquid applicator which includes a container and an applicator wherein the fluid egress from the container is prevented when pressure is applied to the container.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a deodorant applicator having a container and an applicator wherein the container is normally closed and is opened in response to movement of the applicator.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a deodorant applicator including a container and a ball or roll shaped applicator wherein the container includes a support having slit means for preventing egress of liquid caused by pressure within the container.

Another object of this invention is to provide a deodorant applicator including a container and a ball or roll shaped applicator wherein the container includes a support having slit means for preventing egress of liquid caused by pressure within the container and abutment means for permitting liquid flow from the container in response to movement of the ball or roll applicator.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned from practice of the invention, the objects and advantages being realized and attained by means or the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Briefly described, the present invention, as embodied herein, includes a container for fluid and a support element at one end having a normally closed slit means therein. One side of the support has an applicator retaining element which cooperates with a plurality of abutment means on opposite sides of the slit means to mount an applicator on one end of the container. The other side of the support element is provided with means whereby the slit is normally closed and pressure Within the container will keep the slit means closed. The slit means is opened in response to movement of the applicator when pressure is applied thereto.

The accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top view of the embodiment of the invention shown in FEGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a bottom view of another embodiment of the present invention.

FlGURE 4 is a top view of the FIGURE 3 embodiment of the present invention.

FIGURE 5 is a top view of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional View similar to FIGURE 1 showing a container including a well which is usable with the present invention.

The invention consists in the novel parts, construction, arrangements and combinations and improvements shown and described.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general descriptions and the following detailed description are exemplary but are not restrictive of the invention.

Reference will now be rnade to the present preferred embodiment of the invention, several examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that for convenience the several embodiments of the instant invention include similar elements and that such similar or common elements are indicated with identical reference numerals.

With reference to FIGURES 1 and 2 the present invention includes a bottle or container 2 wmch may be made of glass or plastic material and may be rigid or flexible. The bottle or container contains a supply of deodorant fluid. in accordance with this invention means are provided for mounting a deodorant applicator on one end of the container.

As embodied herein a fitment 4 is provided which may be attached to bottle or container 2 in any convenient manner. The fitment 4 includes a support element 6 which serves as one end of the container and which aids in mounting or supporting a ball shaped deodorant applicator 8. Extending outwardly from the support 6 and bottle 2 is an integral one-piece, hollow bail applicator retaining element ill. The ball retaining element flit has at its outer end a tapered end portion 12 which engages the ball and prevents accidental disengagement of the ball and the remainder of the applicator structure. The ball retaining element Iitl covers approximately five-eighths of the ball and only a small portion, approximately threeeighths of the ball, remains in view of the user when the deodorant applicator is assembled.

In accordance with this invention, means are provided for automatically sealing the container against fluid egress rom the container when the applicator is not in use.

As illustrated in FIGURES l and 2 the supporting element includes a valve rneans in the form of a slit 14 which extends partially across the support 6 and through the thickness of the support. It will be appreciated that this slot is extremely narrow so that it will not permit fluid passage therethrough unless mechanical pressure be applied at the proper place to force the sides of the support adjacent the slit away from each other to form an opening for fluid egress.

In accordance with this invention, means are provided for causing pressure within the container to close the valve or slit means. As shown in FIGURE 1 this means includes the lower side or bottom 16 of the support 6 which has a thinned center portion 18 adjacent the slit. It will be appreciated that pressure within the container will be directed onto the tapered surfaces 18 to close the valve or slit means 14. T he present invention includes stiffening flanges 2G for supporting the applicator and for causing slit or valve means to be normally closed. As shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 there are a plurality, preferably 'four, stiffening flanges 2% which extend radially inwardly from the ball retaining element 10 and engage the under surface or bottom surface 16 of the support element 6.

In accordance with this invention means are provided for opening the slit or valve means in response to movement of the applicator when in use.

As embodied herein, this means comprises a plurality of abutments which may be located on opposite sides of the slit. In FIGURES 1 and 2, a ball type applicator 8 is shown and two abutments 22 are provided one on each side of the slit 14 and as shown in the drawings on the upper side of the supporting member 6. Accordingly, when the deodorant device is used the ball applicator will be forced against the abutments 22 and the slit will be opened permitting the deodorant to engage the ball applicator and be applied to the body of the user by a rolling movement.

One of the advantages of the present invention is that it is applicable to roll or ellipsoidal type applicators as well as ball type applicators.

:ln FIGURES 3 and 4 the container means 2 has a rectangular form as opposed to the generally circular form used with the ball type applicator. As shown in FIG- URES 3 and 4- the slit or valve means 14 is provided with a plurality of stiffening flanges 2% for maintaining the slit in a closed position as previously described. In accordance with this form of the invention, as illustrated in 4 a plurality of abutments 22, preferably two, are provided on each side of the valve means or slit which are engaged by the roller to open the slit when pressure is applied to the roller.

in accordance with the present invention the valve means may be in the form of a plurality of intersecting slits thus, as embodied in FiGURE 5, the valve means comprises intersecting slits 24, 26 which are shown as substantially normal to each other. According to this embodiment of the invention, the abutments 22 are located on opposite sides of the slits for the purpose previously described. It is to be understood that although this form of the invention shows a ball applicator that by changing this form of the invention in a manner similar to that shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 that a roll or ellipsoidal type applicator may also be used.

it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any of the embodiments or forms of the present invention may be used in combination with either a rigid or a flexible container. Where the container is flexible, the device can be used in any position by depressing the applicator, ball or roll type, and by squeezing the flexible container to force the fluid therefrom. Where, however, a rigid container is used, it may be necessary to provide means for insuring a supply of fluid for the applicator.

As embodied henien and shown in FIGURE 6 this means comprises a container which is provided with a well means 28 therein for insuring that a supply of liquid is maintained adjacent the ball or roll applicator. The well means 28 includes a cross piece 3% which may be separate from or integral with the container 2 having a plurality of relatively small diameter holes 32 in the center thereof. It will be appreciated that when the applicator is faced downwardly, the deodorant fluid will flow into the well means .28. The fluid deodorant has a relatively high viscosity so that after the well means is filled, a considerable period of time will elapse before the fluid will drain back into the container should the applicator be used in a position with the applicator facing upwardly. Since the application of the deodorant takes only a relatively short period of time, the well means will maintain a supply of fluid adjacent the applicator a sufliciently long period of time to permit the deodorant to be applied.

Accordingly, it is to be understood that the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific elements shown and described, but also includes within the scope of the accompanying claims any departures made from such elements which do not sacrifice its chief advantages.

What is claimed is:

1. A self-sealing liquid dispensing device of the type which is placed in engagement with the body of the user and moved to and fro comprising: a container for the liquid to be dispensed, a fitment mounted at one end of said container, said fitment including a supporting member which normally closes one end of said container, said supporting member having an upper and a lower side, a normally closed slit in said supporting member, at least two abutments on the upper side of said supporting member, there being at least one abutment on each side of said slit, a solid revolvable applicator, said fitment including an applicator retaining element which cooperates with said abutments to mount said applicator so that it can revolve in response to the to and fro movement of said device when in contact with the body of the user, said applicator being mounted in a position above said normally closed slit whereby upon inward movement of said applicator said abutments force said normally closed slit to an open position so that as the device is moved to and fro by the user, said applicator revolves and thereby permits fluid within said container to be dispensed.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 including a cross piece mounted within said container adjacent to said supporting member, said cross piece having at least one aperture therein and forming thereby a well adjacent said supporting member.

3. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said supporting member is provided with a plurality of normally closed, crossed intersecting slits and abutments on opposite sides of each slit.

4. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein the side of said supporting member opposite from said abutments is shaped adjacent said slit to maintain said slit in a closed position and supporting struts are attached to said supporting member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,048,255 Winkelmiller et al Dec. 24, 1912 2,446,085 Gronemeyer et al July 27, 1948 2,557,917 Schlesinger June 19, 1951 2,802,608 Gassaway Aug. 13, 1957 2,858,558 Sudbeaz Nov. 4, 1958 2,968,826 Leshin Jan. 24, 1961 

1. A SELF-SEALING LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE OF THE TYPE WHICH IS PLACED IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE BODY OF THE USER AND MOVED TO AND FRO COMPRISING: A CONTAINER FOR THE LIQUID TO BE DISPENSED, A FITMENT MOUNTED AT ONE END OF SAID CONTAINER, SAID FITMENT INCLUDING A SUPPORTING MEMBER WHICH NORMALLY CLOSES ONE END OF SAID CONTAINER, SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER HAVING AN UPPER AND A LOWER SIDE, A NORMALLY CLOSED SLIT IN SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER, AT LEAST TWO ABUTMENTS ON THE UPPER SIDE OF SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER, THERE BEING AT LEAST ONE ABUTMENT ON EACH SIDE OF SAID SLIT, A SOLID REVOLVABLE APPLICATOR, SAID FITMENT INCLUDING AN APPLICATOR RETAINING ELEMENT WHICH COOPERATES WITH SAID ABUTMENTS TO MOUNT SAID APPLICATOR SO THAT IT CAN REVOLVE IN RESPONSE TO THE TO AND FRO MOVEMENT OF SAID DEVICE WHEN IN CONTACT WITH THE BODY OF THE USER, SAID APPLICATOR BEING MOUNTED IN A POSITION ABOVE SAID NORMALLY CLOSED SLIT WHEREBY UPON INWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID APPLICATOR SAID ABUTMENTS FORCE SAID NORMALLY CLOSED SLIT TO AN OPEN POSITION SO THAT AS THE DEVICE IS MOVED TO AND FRO BY THE USER, SAID APPLICATOR REVOLVES AND THEREBY PERMITS FLUID WITHIN SAID CONTAINER TO BE DISPENSED. 